George Washington eBook

CHAPTER X

THE JAY TREATY

There is no doubt that Washington in his Olympian
quiet took a real satisfaction in his election.
On January 20, 1793, he wrote to Governor Henry Lee
of Virginia:

A mind must be insensible indeed not
to be gratefully impressed by so distinguished
and honorable a testimony of public approbation and
confidence; and as I suffered my name to be contemplated
on this occasion, it is more than probable that
I should, for a moment, have experienced chagrin,
if my reelection had not been by a pretty respectable
vote. But to say I feel pleasure from the prospect
of commencing another term of duty would be a departure
from the truth,—­for, however it might
savor of affectation in the opinion of the world
(who, by the by, can only guess at my sentiments,
as it never has been troubled with them), my particular
and confidential friends well know, that it was after
a long and painful conflict in my own breast,
that I was withheld, (by considerations which
are not necessary to be mentioned), from requesting
in time, that no vote might be thrown away upon me,
it being my fixed determination to return to the
walks of private life at the end of my term.[1]

[Footnote 1: Ford, XII, 256.]

Washington felt at his reelection not merely egotistic
pleasure for a personal success, but the assurance
that it involved a triumph of measures which he held
to be of far more importance than any success of his
own. The American Nation’s new organism
which he had set in motion could now continue with
the uniformity of its policy undisturbed by dislocating
checks and interruptions. Much, very much depended
upon the persons appointed to direct its progress,
and they depended upon the President who appointed
them. In matters of controversy or dispute, Washington
upheld a perfectly impartial attitude. But he
did not believe that this should shackle his freedom
in appointing. According to him a man must profess
right views in order to be considered worthy of appointment.
The result of this was that Washington’s appointees
must be orthodox in his definition of orthodoxy.

His first important act in his new administration
was to issue a Proclamation of Neutrality on April
22d. Although this document was clear in intent
and in purpose, and was evidently framed to keep the
United States from being involved in the war between
France and England, it gave offence to partisans of
either country. They used it as a weapon for
attacking the Government, so that Washington found
to his sorrow that the partisan spites, which he had
hoped would vanish almost of their own accord, were
become, on the contrary, even more formidable and
irritating. At this juncture the coming of Genet
and his machinations added greatly to the embarrassment,
and, having no sense of decency, Genet insinuated
that the President had usurped the powers of Congress
and that he himself would seek redress by appealing
to the people over the President. I have already
stated that, having tolerated Genet’s insults
and menaces as far as he deemed necessary, Washington
put forth his hand and crushed the spluttering Frenchman
like a bubble.